Ep. 92 - Peptides: Fitness’s Most Overhyped Trend? - with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple

The peptide trend is everywhere…in wellness clinics, on influencer feeds, and now inside coaching programs promising six- and seven-figure practices built on injectable protocols. But what does the actual science say?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, Ph.D., a research scientist and contributing author at MASS Research Review whose sharp, no-nonsense breakdowns of health and exercise science have made her one of the most trusted voices for evidence-based practitioners. She joins us to dissect her viral article The Peptide Problem… and pull absolutely zero punches.

We go deep on the three most hyped peptide drugs circulating in the wellness space right now (CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, and BPC-157), and the uncomfortable truth that their bold promises of muscle gain, fat loss, accelerated recovery, and anti-aging are built almost entirely on rodent data. Zero approved human trials. Zero FDA oversight. Zero manufacturing standards. Yet coaches are being handed pre-built protocols and told this is the new standard of care.

Dr. Colenso-Semple explains why "natural" doesn't mean safe, why anecdotal success stories aren't evidence, and what the real risks, including tumor angiogenesis and immune reactions, could look like for everyday people injecting unapproved compounds. She also gives coaches a clear playbook for navigating client pressure, ethical red flags to watch for in mentorship programs tying coach income to selling unapproved drugs, and the evidence-based tools that actually move the needle when you strip the hype away.

If you're a coach, trainer, or health professional trying to stay on the right side of science and your integrity… this one is essential listening

Coach Vinny
Email: vinny@balancedbodies.io
Instagram: vinnyrusso_balancedbodies
Facebook: Vinny Russo

Dr. Eryn
Email: dr.eryn@balancedbodies.io
Instagram: dr.eryn_balancedbodies
Facebook: Eryn Stansfield

Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple
Instgram: drlaurencs1
Website: https://www.drlaurencs.com/
Mass Research Review Article: https://massresearchreview.com/2026/02/26/the-peptide-problem/

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